Heather Graham's parents cut her off for her role in 'Boogie Nights'

[Janice]

http://www.parentdish.com/2007/07/26/heather-grahams-parents-think-shes-a-porn-star/

Heather Graham's parents think she's a porn star

Well, maybe they don't think she is an actual porn star, but according to Heather she may as well be. Heather says that her strictly religious parents severed contact (http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowbizNews.asp?Code=UT239896Q&headline=heather_grahams_parental_pain) with her after she played a roller skating porn star in Boogie Nights. The 37-year-old actress says that her role in the 1997 movie was so explicit that her parents were "horrified." Not willing to listen to her point of view, they decided that because she played that role, she must be like that in real life.

"It would be nice if I did have a good relationship with my family, and yes, part of me longs to have a mum and dad who love and accept me for who I am. But if they never do, it's OK," she says.

She also says that because of her sexy movie roles, men expect her to be like that in real life. "Men I meet tend to think of me as this super-sexy, wild woman, when in fact it has taken me a long time to be able to express that side of myself," she says. She blames her strict Catholic upbringing for that as well, saying at one point her parents wanted her to become a nun.

I remember as a child hearing about Bing Crosby telling Barbara Walters that if his son ever spent the night in his home with a woman to whom he was not married, Crosby would disown him and never talk to him again. I didn't really know who Bing Crosby was at the time, but what he said shocked me. I couldn't understand how a parent could do such a thing and the idea scared me a little. Now that I am a parent myself, I still don't understand it.

[Ireneparalegal]

Very interesting.

I have wondered what it must be like for, especially for actresses, who do roles that have them doing nude scenes or something along the lines of what Heather did in Boogie Nights. It is sad to hear, though I think Heather should have thought long and hard what it was her parents were trying to instill in her. My family would come first before I would do a role that required me to be so explicit, no matter how much money or fame it brings.
I feel sorry that her parents felt so strongly abt what she did, that they felt they needed to cut ties with her. I also feel that Heather should have really sat down with them to get an understanding of what could happen if she decided to take that role. I guess she knows now.

[Mikado]

This might sound like a weird idea, but, i think she should really talk to a sympathetic priest, Im sure she could find someone who'd be able to see both sides, and bring them together.

[Ireneparalegal]

This might sound like a weird idea, but, i think she should really talk to a sympathetic priest, Im sure she could find someone who'd be able to see both sides, and bring them together.
That sounds like a real good idea.

I think if she wants to rectify her relationship with them, this would be the way to do it. So be it, she isn't a porn star, far from it, however, she was reared a certain way and being an adult, she should have known her parents would not be happy.

She is an adult and really, it is her life, but if her family matters to her, she will try and reach out and resolve this issue.

[Mikado]

That sounds like a real good idea.

I think if she wants to rectify her relationship with them, this would be the way to do it. So be it, she isn't a porn star, far from it, however, she was reared a certain way and being an adult, she should have known her parents would not be happy.

She is an adult and really, it is her life, but if her family matters to her, she will try and reach out and resolve this issue.
agreed.....

Actually, priests are pretty good guys ( I was raised catholic..though never a believer ), nuns , on the other hand, really weirded me out! :lol:

[Courtnee]

I would be proud of my daughter, no matter what she did. And I certainly wouldnt DISOWN her because of something racy in a movie.

[Sophie Treadmill]

Absolutely! I think it's appalling that a parent would do that.

I know some people have trouble sorting fact from fiction, but you'd think her parents, of all people would know the difference, because they should know their own daughter better than that. I realize they don't think she's an actual porn star, but even so, it's not reason enough to give up on a child. And, sorry but there are times I do buy the "artistic integrity" excuse. Sometimes nudity is gratutious, and other times it feels integral to the piece. I would never do nudity, but I wouldn't castigate her as a dirty hoor and emblazon her with a scarlett letter N either.

Sooo...what did they think of her role in Drugstore Cowboy then? Because that was one of my favorite movies. That was in 1989. And, I can't think right off the top of my head, but has she been in any really violent films that they were okay with? Just curious. It's also weird to me that they would disown her for this particular role, because she's been doing quirky, artistic, offbeat roles for a long time.

[catlover79]

What a sad story. ohno: I hope that everything works out OK.

[ABlairican Pie]

Hmmmm. They disowned her for a movie that was NOT a porn movie, but ABOUT the porn industry. Sad they can't tell the difference. ohno: Something that's more of a period piece about the seedy underworld of Hollywood and a compelling story to tell of one of its most notorious characters.